Midlands entrepreneurs set for pitch battle

2016 finalists at Pitchfest

A unique pitching competition, where Midlands entrepreneurs have the opportunity to increase their profile in front of a national audience of investors, is to take place in Birmingham.

The final of Pitchfest is being hosted at Venturefest West Midlands on June 27 at the NEC.

The finalists and their business ideas will compete to win the Best Pitch Award, potential future investment and £2,000 in cash prizes.

Battling it out for this year’s title will be Aceleron, Advanced Epi, Essentially Yours, Limitless Travel, OmAwake, Overground, Snaptivity, solv.ai, and Zento.

Each will pitch their idea to a panel of judges, which include CEO of the UK Business Angel Association, Jenny Tooth, who has 20 years’ experience of facilitating SMEs access to investment. Joining her is the director of investments at British Business Bank, Robert Cawdron.

Jointly organised by Aston University, the University of Birmingham and the University of Warwick, in association with Venturefest West Midlands, a series of workshops and investor selection panels were held over three months to help businesses develop their pitch before the Pitchfest final.

The final is aimed at supporting business growth through innovation. It will bring together up to 1,000 entrepreneurs, innovators and investors with specific innovation expertise. The event will also see over 30 companies exhibiting to showcase the support and services on offer in the region for new and growing businesses. Alongside them will also be over 25 high growth, high innovation exhibiting companies.

2016 finalist, Karl Drage, CEO of Smart Renewable Heat – a designer and installer of turn-key, energy efficient renewable heat systems – had a huge influx of investment after taking part in the competition.

“The Pitchfest experience was useful and enjoyable. The process helped me sharpen my pitch, and prepared me for many similar pitches to investors,” he said.

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